Elmhurst Announces New Scholarship

June 16, 2016 | by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs

Elmhurst College is pleased to announce the establishment of the Larry and Judi Braskamp Reach Your Potential Endowed Scholarship, which was created in appreciation of the Braskamps’ leadership of the College and their deeply held commitment to putting students first.

Thanks to generous gifts from Elmhurst College trustees, alumni and friends, the Larry and Judi Braskamp Reach Your Potential Endowed Scholarship has been funded in the amount of $101,100, an amount that is more than double the original goal set for the scholarship fund.

“This scholarship recognizes the contributions of Larry and Judi in a way that will benefit Elmhurst students for a long, long time to come,” said Elmhurst College Trustee Russell Weigand ’64, who chaired a small volunteer fundraising committee for the project. Other members of the committee included trustees JoAnn McGuinness ’15, Edward Momkus ’74, Eva Tameling ’78 and Kevin York.

The Board of Trustees agreed in March to initiate a fundraising project to honor the Braskamps, who in numerous ways have been Elmhurst students’ strongest advocates. Under Larry Braskamp’s tenure as interim president, Elmhurst College affirmed that it is “extraordinarily committed” to helping students achieve personal and professional success, and built on that commitment by developing the student-focused Reach Your Potential initiative.

The original goal for the scholarship fund was set at $50,000, but that goal was quickly reached, and the amount raised soon exceeded $100,000.

“The fact that we exceeded the goal is indicative of the Board’s esteem for Larry and Judi, and all that Larry accomplished during his short time with the College,” said Board Chair Barbara Lucks. “It also speaks to the Reach Your Potential initiative, which resonated with us as much as it did the campus.”

The fund will provide approximately $5,000 per year in student scholarships to Elmhurst students with demonstrated financial need, giving them the opportunity to reach their potential in college and the world beyond. The first Larry and Judi Braskamp Reach Your Potential scholarship will be awarded in the 2016–2017 academic year.

The Braskamps did not know about the establishment of the scholarship in their names, and were surprised with the news on June 10, during the Board of Trustees retreat.

“This is the best gift I have ever received,” Larry Braskamp said. “What makes it so special is that it is for the benefit of the College and its students, and they are what mattered most to Judi and me during our time at Elmhurst.”